What are veneers?

Veneers are thin layers of material that cover the front of your teeth. Veneers can be placed on one tooth or a few of your teeth.

Your dental professional fixes veneers to the surface of your teeth. You can't take veneers off.

Veneers can be made of:

• porcelain (ceramic)
• composite resin (of plastic and glass)

Why would I want veneers?

Veneers help to improve the appearance of your teeth. They're not used to repair damage, but can help restore worn teeth. Veneers don't straighten your teeth or fix your bite.

Veneers can be useful if your teeth are:

• discoloured or stained
• a bit crooked
• oddly shaped compared to your other teeth
• chipped or slightly broken
• widely spaced and leave a gap

Veneers may not be suitable if you grind or clench your teeth or if you have gum disease.

How are veneers fitted?

Porcelain

Porcelain (ceramic) veneers are custom made for you in a dental laboratory or in a specialised CEREC machine at your dental professional's surgery.

The number of appointments you will need to get veneers will depend on whether your dental professional has the right scanning and production equipment.

Your dental professional will make a copy of your tooth or teeth.

This can be done by:

• taking an impression using a jaw-shaped tray filled with a soft, gel-like material — this is pushed onto your teeth and held in place for 3 to 5 minutes
• using a digital scanner to take a 3-dimensional (3D) image of your tooth

Your veneers are then made in the dental laboratory. You will need a second appointment for your dental professional to fix the veneers to your tooth.

If the dental professional has a CEREC machine they will do:

• 3D imaging of your tooth or teeth
• x-rays
• photographs

The machine will use this information to make your veneer or veneers. These can be fixed to your teeth straight away.

Composite

You can get a composite resin veneer in one visit to your dental professional. Composite resin is the material used for white dental fillings.

Composite resin veneers are applied directly to the front of your tooth in layers. The composite veneer is then shaped and polished by your dental professional.

Your dental professional will match the colour of the veneers with your surrounding teeth to make them look as natural as possible.

A small amount of your natural tooth may need to be trimmed so that the veneer fits well. Your dental professional might use a local anaesthetic so that you don't feel any pain during this step.

What are the benefits and risks of choosing veneers?

Veneers can significantly improve the look of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers can look more realistic and last longer than resin veneers, but they are more expensive.

Veneers are thin, so not much of your natural tooth will need to be removed.

At first your teeth will feel different as you get used to their new shape.

Veneers don't fix tooth decay or problems with your bite.

Possible risks of having veneers are:

• jaw pain
• the veneer could crack or fall off
• your teeth could become more sensitive because some enamel is removed
• if your gum shrinks, the edges of the veneers may be seen
• the colour of your veneers can't be changed after they've been applied
• your other teeth may become discoloured, no longer matching your veneers

How should I care for my dental veneers?

Your dental professional may ask you to come back after a couple of weeks so that they can check your veneers.

Teeth with veneers need to be well cared for to help them last as long as possible. Veneers should last for years.

You'll need to brush and floss your teeth with veneers the same as you do for natural teeth. Regular visits to your dental professional are also important.

How much do veneers cost?

Talk to your dental professional about the cost of veneers.

Porcelain veneers are generally more expensive than resin veneers.

The cost will also depend on how many veneers you get and what size they are.

What are the alternatives to veneers?

An alternative to veneers is to continue to live with your teeth as they are.

You could ask your dental professional about:

• using resin to repair a small section of your tooth
• a dental crown
• teeth whitening
• orthodontic treatments such as braces
• clip on veneers

Resources and support

You can find out more about how to care for your teeth at Teeth.org.au.

Talk to your dentist about the benefits and risks of getting a dental implant. Use the Therapeutic Goods Administration's guide on what to ask.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.